Sales of land welcomed

Two vital property deals worth more than £5 million have been completed at the last minute, paving the way for ambitious plans to regenerate parts of Shrewsbury.Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council had set a deadline of 5pm yesterday for the £2.6 million sale of the town’s Barker Street car park and the £2.5 million sale of New Street nursery.

If the deals had not gone through it would have put ambitious plans to regenerate the town’s West End and the River Severn area in jeopardy.

But Andy Goldsmith, the council’s assistant chief executive, today spoke of his relief after both deals were completed yesterday afternoon.

“The outcome is we have completed on both sales,” he said. “We completed on Barker Street at 2pm and on New Street nursery at about 4.30pm.

“I am very relieved. I’m disappointed it had to go to the wire, but I am pleased we have now completed on both sales and the money is in the bank. We can progress with the capital programme and the exciting programme of the West End.”

With the sales completed, it means the council can put nearly £4 million towards the £12 million scheme to redevelop the town’s Music Hall. Some of the £4 million cash is coming from other deals.

About £1 million will also be put towards securing the future of the historic Rowley’s House, while £600,000 will be used for a new road layout in St Austin’s Street and Bridge Street and car park enhancements at the Bridge Street car park.

The deadline to sell the Barker Street car park to Morris Property was extended after the deal stalled last week when the property firm’s solicitors asked for confirmation that the council had authority to lift a car parking order.

As the deal has been completed Morris Property can also now press ahead with its plans to create a mixed-use scheme on the site, including residential and commercial properties.

Bosses are in talks with council planners about the site and it is hoped plans will come forward for public consultation in the near future.

Mayfield Developments has bought the New Street nursery site and already has planning permission for 14 detached houses there.